This year, the East Hampton Town Trustees Scholarship award was presented to graduating senior, Dylan Cashin.
The Trustees read several applications from graduating students, their names, unknown to them. Of those entries, Dylan Cashin’s essay to the Trustees was voted to be outstanding and included her interest in growing kelp in the Trustee waters and her important community service efforts.
The Trustees application asks for the student to describe the work and responsibilities of the Trustees and Dylan’s essay proved to be thoughtful, accurate, and passionate as she has been involved with her cultivation of kelp in our local waters. She attended a Trustee meeting and applied for a permit to grow a kelp line as a sustainable biofuel that would have a positive environmental impact. Dylan entered the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair and won a second place award that inspired her to pursue studies that would include additional sciences that would advocate for a healthy environment and planet for the present and future.
Dylan’s interest in a sustainable resource that would have a positive end result won the Trustee’s respect for her initiative project as it is precisely what they endeavor to accomplish every day – to preserve and protect our natural resources. Dylan’s essay highlighted her achievements, appreciation and knowledge of the Trustees work.
As a “citizen scientist”, Dylan did research at the University at Albany to focus on “finding innovative solutions to safeguarding our ecosystem that she felt were compatible with the efforts of the Trustees.
Dylan and her close friend, Ryleigh O’Donnell are the brainstorm co-founders of “May Day 5K”. Conceived after COVID when socializing was restricted, the two seniors wanted to provide a community service that brings awareness of mental health issues that exist within our town. The 5K run raises funds to help members of the community who may be struggling with mental health obstacles.
Nicole O’Donnell.
Dylan’s future holds an exciting new adventure – after graduation, she’ll attend the United States Naval Academy where former President Jimmy Carter, Senator John McCain, and NASA astronauts Alan Shepard, Jim Lovell, William Anders, who took the iconic photo from space of the earth, and Sunita Williams, the first Indian American female astronaut, were past graduates.
Dylan will major in general science and sustainability. She’ll be an officer in the Navy and upon graduation will be an ensign or second Lieutenant. She will then serve five years of active duty and continue to pursue her career in science.
Influenced by her mother who came from Ireland and served in the Irish military, Dylan Cashin has a a keen mind, dedicated to preserving and improving the environment through science and innovative solutions.
The East Hampton Town Trustees are proud of Dylan Cashin’s accomplishments and we’re sure she’ll make groundbreaking achievements in her future that will help to serve both communities and our planet, Earth!
